Softball Heads to West Point for Three-Game Series with Army

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell softball will travel to play Army West Point for a three-game series this weekend in a battle of teams riding six-game unbeaten streaks. The Patriot League series opens with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and wraps up with one game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Bison have won six straight games to improve to 25-17 overall. Included during that stretch was a three-game sweep of conference foe Lafayette that upped their league record to 4-5. The Black Knights are 5-0-1 in their past six games, including a sweep of Boston University. They are 19-19-1 overall and 8-4 in the league.

Dana Nielsen has been sensational in the circle for the Bison of late, including back-to-back complete game shutouts over Lafayette. She pitched 12 scoreless innings over the weekend, striking out six batters and walking just two. Amanda Fazio also pitched a solid game for the Bison against the Leopards, going the distance in a 6-1 win.

Chaylen Andolino has stepped into the starting lineup for the Bison and has been a difference maker in three straight games. She went 6-for-8 at the plate against Lafayette, tallying one double, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Jacee Almond takes an eight-game hitting streak into this weekend's series. She is batting .287 on the year. Cydnee Sanders leads the team with a .368 average. Fazio is second at .358, while Kristen Zahn is third at .328. Zahn leads the Patriot League with 40 RBIs, which is also a Bucknell single-season record. Erin Cox and Zahn share the conference lead with 12 doubles, and Cox is second with seven home runs.

Army and Bucknell are tied for second in the Patriot League with 16 home runs. Kasey McCravey provides the power for the Black Knights with seven home runs. She also leads the team with a .406 batting average and 37 RBIs.

Bucknell took two of three from Army during the regular season last year, and then eliminated the Black Knights from the Patriot League Tournament with a 3-2 win that advanced the Bison to the championship game.